The Syrian Jambiya/Khanjar

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

...snip... I know some other forumites have some very fine examples.

Hi ...
my truth, which is not necessarily "THE" truth
concerning Syria (without Jordan or Israel)

it seems (?) that there are three different productions,
two ... nearly similar
- Magdali - Druze production from "Majdal Shams" (Tower of the sun) - Golan
- Damascus production

the third one, is for the Palestinian, an Bedouin Jordan market, .. more specific

the "Magdali's" is characterized by an hilt flatter, and less decorated
but with some poems (?) engraved on the blade, close to the hilt
I never got a chance to know what is writing, translation resist to all translators

- Damascus production, the hilt is carved in a more elaborated way
the blade is often with colored inserts dots or engraving stars 3 or more
red, black green, recalling the national colors,
it also has two or three gorges along its length,and has sometimes light engraving

as far as I know, the hilt are constituted of ;
- rings made from goats horn
- rings made from bone
- rings made by copper, or brass, could be by silvery
- sometimes inclusion of coral, mother of pearls
- sometime a date (one with me is dated 1923 Gregorian in Arabic characters ...)

that's what my friend "Rimon" told me and teach me
he is furbisher in Islamic edged weapons, and established in ... Damascus - Syria
all the best

à +

Dom

[DaveA]

I recently two jambiya reportedly from Syria. According to Dom's classification, the first one shown here would be Damascus. Am I correct?

best regards,

Dave A.

[DaveA]

This one doesn't seem to fit Dom's categories but the seller also claimed it was from Syria. Any insights?

- Dave A.

[DaveA]

Here is my third Syrian jambiya, provisionally identified as from Magdal Shams. Sorry I don't have better pictures at this time.

- Dave A.

[Atlantia]

Hi Dave,

The first and second I would say are Majdali type. Either from Majdal Shams or possibly one of the other villages in that area.
They look to have very good age.
These tend to date from 1920-1950. But those might be older (say 1900-1920). I would guess that the first is showing Ottoman rule in it's crescent and star decoration.

Good examples.

[Atlantia]

Here's a fairly standard Damascus type.
Interestingly, this has a slightly unusual inscription, which although typically a little rough, is legible enough that I can pick out the date of 1358, which I make to be 1939.

If anyone can pick out any other words I'd be interested?

[laEspadaAncha]

I find it interesting that both the (or just some?) Syrian and Jordanian Jambiyas are inscribed with the Gregorian date written in Arabic. Due to the confluence of cultures in and around the Holy Land, perhaps?

Anyway, I'll take and post a couple photos of my own Syrian example in a day or so...

[Dom]

Originally Posted by DaveA

Here is my third Syrian jambiya, provisionally identified as from Magdal Shams. Sorry I don't have better pictures at this time.

- Dave A.

Hi Dave
all your Syrian jambiya are ...
"Majdali" type from "Magdal Shams - Golan"
very well typed I just Love them

à +

Dom

[Dom]

Originally Posted by DaveA

This one doesn't seem to fit Dom's categories but the seller also claimed it was from Syria. Any insights?

- Dave A.

and the seller was fully correct
more Syrian than that I.M.P.O.S.S.I.B.L.E
specifically from Golan Mountains ... it's a splendid "Majdali"

à +

Dom